Bag opening apparatus



Oct. 29, 1968 o. R. HUDSON BAG OPENING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l FileqlMarch 22, 1966 INVENTOR. DOYLE R HUDSON ATTORNEY Oct. 29, 1968 o. R.HUDSON BAG OPENING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1966INVENTOR.

DOYLE R. HUDSON ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,407,567 BAG OPENINGAPPARATUS Doyle R. Hudson, West Monroe, La., assignor, by mesneassignments, to Olinkraft, Inc., West Monroe, La., a corporation ofDelaware Filed Mar. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 536,469 Claims. (Cl. 53385)ABSTRACT OF THE DISKJLOSURE The disclosure relates to an improvedmachine for opening bags so that articles may be inserted therein, withthe machine comprising a receptacle for holding bags in a closed,stacked relationship, suction means for successively ejecting andpartially opening bags from said receptacle, and a blower for directinga stream of air into each partially opened, successively ejected bag,thereby completely opening said bag.

The present invention relates to a machine for opening bags so thatarticles may be inserted therein.

In the past a number of machines have been marketed which use a varietyof mechanisms to cause one bag of a stack of bags to be opened anddistended and thus provide for the ready insertion of articles by hand.

Ordinarily, these mechanisms include a plurality of interacting meansfor removing the bag from a stack of bags and getting the bag into thedistended condition.

It is a disadvantage of mechanisms known heretofore that they generallyrequire a plurality of often complicated mechanical means to performthis simple function. In fact, a testament to the uneconomical manner ofoperation of many machines of this type is that it is frequently moreeconomical to open bags by hand.

It is, accordingly, a principal object of the present invention toprovide an improved bag opening apparatus.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide animproved and simplified apparatus for removing bags from a stack of bagsand opening the bags, thus providing for the ready insertion of articleseither by hand or automatically.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparentwhen the following discussion is considered in connection with theappended drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view partly in section, with portions cutaway, of a bag opening apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGURES 2 through 4 are side elevational views similar to FIGURE 1showing the bag apparatus of the present invention in subsequent stagesof operation;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of a bag being held in the closedand stacked position.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG- URE 1 there isshown a plurality of bags 20, preferably square bottomed bags such asshown in FIGURE 5 and in US. Patent 3,206,105. The bags are preferablyprovided with a thumb notch 21 on one side only midway on the upper,leading edge thereof.

The bags are held in closed, stacked relationship in receptacle orhopper 30. Receptacle 30 is a generally rectangular enclosure having abase 31 and upstanding side walls 32. The receptacle 30 preferably hasan open entry side 33 and an open exit side 34. The base 31 of thereceptacle 30 is preferably inclined towards exit side 34 to aid indischarge of the bags 20. The shape and form of the receptacle is notparticularly critical, it being only necessary to provide for convenientbag storage and ready access to the bags.

The bags are stacked in receptacle 30 with notch 21 facing exit side 34and the folded base 22 facing entry side 33.

3,407,567 Patented Oct. 29, 1968 ice The plurality of bags 20 arepreferably urged forward by means of a spring, not shown, or any otherconvenient means. The bags are prevented from leaving the receptacle 30by means of holding pins or fingers 35 on the bottom of exit side 34 andflange or roller 36 on the top of exit side 34. Flange or roller 36preferably holds only the rear portion of bag 20 through thumb notch 21as shown in FIGURE 5.

Optionally, additional holding pins (not shown) may be provided part wayup side wall 32 to relieve the pressure on the forwardmost bag of thestack and prevent the bags from being prematurely ejected. In thismanner all of the bags in the stack do not exert pressure on theforwardmost bag. If desired, the additional holding pins may be actuatedby the ejection mechanism hereinafter discussed so that as a bag isejected from the receptacle the additional holding pins release a baginto the forward portion of the receptacle.

Arranged adjacent the exit side 34 of receptacle 30 are a plurality ofsuction devices 40 and 41. While the apparatus as described preferablyincludes two sets of suetion devices, 40 and 41, variations in this arecontemplated and for example a single suction device or a single set ofsuction devices or three or more sets of suction devices may beemployed.

Suction devices 40 and 41 are provided operative to engage and grip theleading bag in an area above the folded bottom thereof. The suctiondevices 40 and 41 are reciprocally movable in a generally horizontalplane into and out of engagement with the bags 20. By generallyhorizontal plane the present invention contemplates movement of thesuction devices, if desired, in for example an are or similar movementdepending on various considerations, such as location of the receptacle.

The suction devices 40 and 41 may be mounted in any desired manner toprovide for the appropriate reciprocal movement. For example, as shownin the drawings the suction devices may be mounted on plate 42 which inturn is activated by piston 43 and piston arm 44 driven by hose 45connected to a hydraulic or air cylinder, not shown. The particularmeans for activating plate 42 and suction devices 40 and 41 are notparticularly critical and a variety of means may be selected. The piston43 is mounted on housing 46 by means of bolts 47 and clamps 48. Supportbar 49 is mounted on housing 46 by means of bolts 50 and clamps 51.Support bar 49 is mounted on plate 42 by any desired means and moves inan appropriate reciprocal motion. A plurality of support bars may beused, if desired, or the support bars may be mounted in a stationarymanner. if desired.

In operation the suction devices 40 and 41 are urged forward intoengagement with the upper portion of bags 20. The suction means isprovided by suction hoses 52 and suction is applied in sufficient forceto pull the top portion of one bag only out of receptacle 30 by forcingthe top portion of bag 20 over flange 36. In operation, flange 36 holdsonly the rear portion of bag 20 through thumb notch 21. Therefore, thefront top portion of bag 20 is readily moved by the suction devices andthe bag 20 is simply and conveniently partially opened by the action ofthe suction devices 40 and 41 alone. As the suction devices 40 and 41continue their rearward motion they pull the rear portion of partiallyopened bag 20 in a substantially horizontal direction over flange 36.Subsequently, the bottom portion of bag 20 is forced free from holdingpins 35 and the partially opened bag is urged in the direction of themoving suction devices 40 and 41. Alternatively, one may provide fingers(not shown) instead of suction devices 40 and 41 to grasp the frontportion of bag 20 through thumb notch 21 and thus perform basically thesame function as the suction devices 40 and 41.

The horizontal movement of the suction devices is a particular advantagein that it avoids the necessity for an additional device to turn thebags into delivery position.

Blower 60 having a discharge nozzle 61 is mounted above the exit side 34of receptacle 30. The blower is of the usual form with the air streamprovided by motor 62 of the usual construction. Moveable gate 63 ismounted at the end of discharge nozzle 61 completely blocking dischargenozzle 61 so that the escape of air from discharge nozzle 61 isprevented. Gate 63 swings on pivot 64 and arm 65 with a spring 66mounted on housing 67. The gate arm 65 and pivot 64 may be on both sidesof the discharge nozzle 61 or on one side only. The gate is actuated bycam 68 having cam arm 69 mounted on plate 42. As plate 42 and suctiondevices 40 and 41 move in their substantially horizontal movement awayfrom receptacle 30, as shown in FIGURES 2-4, cam 68 hooks onto roller 70which is mounted on pivot arm 65. The cam 68 opens gate 63 and allows ablast of air from discharge nozzle 61 to move into the partially openbag 20 as it is being pulled by suction devices 40 and 41 away fromreceptacle 30, thus fully opening bag 20. As the cam 68 movesrearwardly, it releases gate 63 and spring 66 urges the gate 63 back toits closed position. The cam 68, cam arm 69 and roller 70 may also be oneither one side of discharge nozzle 61 or both sides.

When suction devices 40 and 41 arrive in their rearward position, thesuction is removed and the bag is allowed to drop into conveyor 80 whichmay carry conveyor cup 81.

As cam 68 returns to the position in FIGURE 1 from the position inFIGURE 4 it may pass roller 70 without opening gate 63 by a variety ofmeans. For example, the rear face of cam 68 may be tapered and the cammay be spring mounted to depress on passing roller 70. Alternatively,the roller may be moveable in one direction.

It is a particular advantage of the present invention that the suctiondevices 40 and 41 effectively partially open bag 20 and the blower 60completes the opening in a simple and convenient manner. Thus, inoperation the apparatus of the present invention simply and convenientlyserially removes bags from a hopper and deposits them in the fullyopened condition in one simple and expeditious movement with a minimumof complicated moving parts.

A highly advantageous feature of the present invention is thecooperation between the suction devices 40 and 41 and the blower 60 toinsure complete and convenient opening of the bag.

This invention may be embodied in other forms or carried out in otherways without departing from the spirit or essential characteristicsthereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered as in allrespects illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the inventionbeing indicated by the appended claims, and all changes which comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency are intended to be embracedtherein.

What is claimed is:

1. A bag opening apparatus comprising:

(A) a receptacle for holding bags in a closed, stacked relationship,said receptacle having a bottom, upstanding sides, an entry side and anexit side;

(B) suction means arranged adjacent said exit side reciprocally moveablein a generally horizontal plane into and out of engagement with theupper portion of said bags, said suction means being operable tosuecessively eject and partially open bags from said receptacle;

(C) a blower having a discharge nozzle above the exit side of saidreceptacle directing a stream of air into each partially opened,successively ejected bag, thereby completely opening said bag;

(D) gate means associated with said blower, said gate means in itsclosed position preventing the flow of air into the area adjacent saidexit side, said gate means in its open position permitting the flow ofair into said exit side; and

(E) means associated with said suction means for moving said gate meansinto the open and closed position.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gate means is amoveable gate attached to said discharge nozzle.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receptacle has an openentry side and an open exit side.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 including a holding pin on the exitside of said receptacle.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a holding pin on thebottom of the exit side of said receptacle and a holding flange on thetop of the exit side of said receptacle, said holding flange holding therear portion of said bags only.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,032,259 2/ 1936 Chandler 53-190X 2,069,266 2/1937 Nicodemus 53l90 X 2,833,097 5/1958 Petrea et a153-188 3,075,324 1/1963 Burks et a1 53-189 X 3,138,907 6/1964 Gerbe53385 3,262,249 7/1966 Finerow 53190 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, PrimaryExaminer.

R. L. FANIS, Assistant Examiner.

